Modular office work space and partition structure



June 24, 1958 s. G. BUDAI 2,840,431

MODULAR OFFICE WORK SPACE AND PARTITION STRUCTURE Original Filed Nov. 14, 1951 fad /a fle-R IN V EN TOR. 5 T51/E Gf uan ATTORN EY'S.

United States Patent() MODULAR OFFICE WORK SPACE AND PARTITION STRUCTURE Steve G. Budai, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Globe-Wernicke Co., a corporation of Ohio Original application November 14, 1951, Serial No. 256,207, now Patent No. 2,708,292, dated May 17, 1955. Divided and this application March 10, 1955, Serial No. 493,589.

2 claims. (ci. .n2-111) This invention relates to a modular otlice work space and partition structure, and is a division of my copendf ing application, Serial No, 256,207, filed November l4, 1951, now Patent No. 2,708,292, granted May 17, 1955. In my copending application, Serial No. 243,261, filed August 23, 1951, now Patent No. 2,746,109, and entitled, Flexible Oiiice Work Space and Partition Structure, I have disclosed a series of metal desks and table units, a post construction involving intermediate post members, unit post members and end post members and various combinations thereof, and a series of panel elements all made essentially of sheet metal which could be Thus, in Figure 1, I have shown the table unit 10 and desk unit 11 connected together at right angles forming an L-shaped work space. A table unit has the Work surface visible in Figure 1 and consisting of a suitable board indicated at 10a in Figures 4 and 5. The periphery of the board 10a is provided with the nished strips 10b along the longitudinal edges, and the strips 10c along the short edges. These strips 10b and 10c as clearly seen in Figures 4 and 5 are deeper than the thickness of the member 10a. For a more solid constructionamortise and tenon joint may be provided as indicated at 10d in these figures. Secured to the under side of the board 10a as best seen in Figures 3, 4 and 5 are the strips V12.

These strips throughout their entire length are provided with the rabbet 12a and the slots 12b are provided to communicate With the rabbet 12a as best seen in Figure 3. These slots as clearly seen in Figure 3 have a portion extending the full width of the rabbet and an extension approximately less than half the width of the rabbet.

The construction just described is for the purpose of attaching the fastening elements indicated generally at A V13 and best seen in detail in Figure 2. These members assembled, in an infinite number of arrangements to provide a plurality of L-shaped work spaces. Reference is hereby made to the said copending application for a full disclosure of the various possible arrangements, and the various modifications in set-up.

It is an object of the presentrinvention to disclose how the same objectives may be accomplished with Wooden table and desk units.- The various fastening elements disclosed in said copending case are not entirely suitable for use with a wood construction, and it is therefore an ancillary object of the present invention to disclose certain specific securing or fastening means useful in assembling the structure of the present invention.

These and various other objects of the invention which I shall point out in more detail hereinafter, or which Will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading these spccications, I accomplish by that certain construction and arrangement of parts of which I shall now disclose certain exemplary embodiments.

Reference is made to the drawings forming a part hereof, and in which:

Figure l is a plan View of an assembly of a desk unit and table unit;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a securing member, the use of which is shown in Figure 5;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan vew ofa table unit;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view, taken on a greatly enlarged scale taken on a line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on a greatly enlarged scale taken on a line 5-5 of Figure 1, Y

and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a cam plate used in the structure of Figure 5. v

Briefly in the practice of my invention I provide desk units and table units, as well as posts and partition members. As disclosed in my said copending application an L-shaped work space is constituted by a table unit and a desk unit joined together at right angles. Partition members may be provided for each L-shaped work space by use of the partition panels and post members. While I have shown only a single arrangement inthe present application it will be understood that various arrangecation, may be made if desired.

13 are of sheet metal and are generally of Z-shape having Y a relatively short arm 13a and a relatively long arm 13b connected by a web portion 13e. The portion 13b has a hole 13d therethrough for the passage of the shank 14a of the locking device 14. The shank 14a is provided with the pin 14b. The member 13 is assembled to a table unit as clearly seen in Figure 5. The portions 13a and 13b are inserted through the wide part of the slot 12b and then moved longitudinally of the table top into the narrow part of the slot 12b. In the latter position the parts will look as seen in Figure 5 providing an outwardly extending arm 13b carrying the locking member 14. A spring washer 14e is preferably provided around the shank 14a as seen in Figure 5. The structure just described is for the purpose of fastening a desk unit to a table unit as will be described hereinafter. The table unit is provided with leg members 15 which may be of plywood in a hollow box type of construction.

The desk unit indicated generally at 11 is provided with a top constituted of a board 11a, and is provided with framing strips 11b and 11e similar to the strips 10b and 10c described above. Again the mortise and tenon structure 11d may be provided as described above in connection with the mortise and tenon structure 10d. On the under side of the board 11a there are provided the strips 16 corresponding generally to the strips 12 of the table unit and the strips 16 are provided witha rabbet extending longitudinally the entire length of the strip. An aperture 16a is provided in said rabbet and the plate 17 of Figure 6 is set into the rabbet over the aperture 16a. Each vdesk top is provided with two plates 17 at the end opposite the pedestal 18. Centrally of the plate there is an aperture 17a having diametrically opposed extensions17b. Commencing from each of the extensions 17b is a'curved cam member 17C, which may be of material struck out from the aperture 17a. From the foregoing description it will be clear that when it is desired to secure a desk unit and table unit together, the member 13 with its associated parts is assembled to the table unit as heretofore described, and then'the desk unit is butted against the table unit so that the shank 14a extends up through the aperture 17a with the pin 14b passing through the extension17b in the plate 17. The member 14 is then given approximately a quarter turn in a clock-wise direction so that the pin 14b rides up on the cam surfaces 17C and locks the two units tightly together. Thus, the units may be separated by simply turning the member 14 in a counter clock-wise direction approximately a quarter turn. f

While I have shown certain specilic construction, it

will be clear thatnumerous modications may be made Without departing from 'the spirit of my invention, and it will thus be clear that I do not intendY to limit myself otherwise than as set forthj'n the claims which follow. Having now fully disclosed my invention, what I claim as newfandV desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

f 1 Inla modularotice 'Work spacestructure in combinationvvithr aV desk and a table unit, a separable fastening device for securing said units together, said deviee comprising ay sheet metalmember having an offset parallel flange, 'abayonet slot inthe under side of one of said units through which said ange extends, a key secured to said member `and having an engaging abutment an aperture for the passage of said key Vin the other of said units, and a rigid `cammember beyond `said Yaperture for en'- gagementby said abutment upon rotation of said key, to draw said units tightly together.

2,;In a modular `oce Work space structure in combination with a desk and a table unit, a separable fastenling device for securing. said units together, said device comprising a Vsheet metal member having an offset parallel ange, a bayonet slot in the underside'of one of said units through which said ange extends, a key secured to said member and having a diametrically projecting engaging pin, an aperturefor the passage of said key in the other of said units, and diametrically opposed rigid cam members beyond said aperture for engagement by said engaging pin upon rotation of said key, to draw said units tightly together.

References Cited in therle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 565,368 Smalstig et al.v Aug. 4, 1896 1,135,233 Weiss Apr. 13, 1915 1,585,102 Langdon May 18, 1926 1,604,875 Bogaty Oct. 26, 1926 

